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Today's big news in Baseball related music blogging is that the Seatle Mariner's face of the franchise Ichiro Suzuki was traded to the New York Yankees. While Ichiro may be a few years off his prime, on any given night he is still a player capable of ruining the opposing team's night with his implacable bat and unwavering defense. Although he requested a trade several weeks back after 11.5 years with the team, he also recently stated through a translator that, "When I think about taking off the Mariners uniform, I was overcome with sadness…"
Ichiro seems like a genuinely good guy who worked hard and earned the affection of the baseball loving upper northwest portion of the country. When he wasn't devastating the Orioles pitching staff, I loved watching him play the game, and so did Death Cab for Cutie's Benjamin Gibbard since he released a song aptly titled Ichiro's Theme today in wake of the transaction.
It's a wonderful pop homage with an irresistible hook and a contagious sing-along quality. Baseball has a way of making you feel like a kid at any age, and this song is a prime example of that feeling. If I were Ichiro I would be proud to have inspired this song, and would consider using it as my coming to bat theme. So here's to you Ichiro, for tonight at least, because I can no longer enjoy rooting for you in pin stripes. You dig?